Tag-machine.



. P. SMITH.

TAG MACHINE.

APfmmTmN FILED 001220. 1909.

ljatented Mar. 7, 1911.

8 SHEETS*SHEET1.

x1 TTU/CNE) 'AS C. F. SMITH.

TAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.20| 1909.

986,232, Patented Man?, 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f /g77- C/Q m am 3 T all??? C. P. SMITH.

TAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.20, 1909. 96,232.,

8 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

a w l@ www M gm Patented Mar. '7, 1911.

C. F. SMITH.

TAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0cT,zo,1909.

Patented Mar. 7, 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

www sw wwwwwl 1Q SLS C. I'. SMITH.

TAG MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED 00T.20, 1909.

Patented Mar. 7, 19711.

B SHEETS-SHEET 6.

[NI/ENTOR.

ATTO/NEIN C. P. SMITH.

TAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0011.20, 1909.

986,232u 211181111611 Mar. 7, 1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

2519 K 0 l O n W/TNESSES: NVENTOR.

QMM. FHF-mwww,

A TTORNEYS'.

C. F. SMITH.

TAG- MACHINE.

APPLIoATloN FILED 00T.z0, 1909.

Patented Mar. '7, 1911.

8 SHEETSSHBET 8.

OOOYOOOO0-OOGGO [AVI/ENTOR. M Y. JVM,

ATTORNEYS.

TA GGCH'INE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Dctoner 20, 1969.

Patented Mar. figli-i.. Serial No. 523,667.

To all 'whom il may concern' Be it known that l, CHARLES F. SMITH, a citizen. of the United States of America, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fair- `field and State of EConnecticut,have invented a new and useful '"lag-llvlachine, of 'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for punching tag-blanks from strips of sheet-metal and forming such blanks into tags of a particular kind and more especially such as those covered by United States Letters Patent Nb..843,960, issued February 12th, 1907, and said invention resides generally in certain peculiar feeding, Ypunching or stamping, forming, and printing mechanisms, and in the parts and combinations of parts which go to make up the complete machine, including manually-operated starting and automatically and pedally-operated stopping mechanism, actuating mechanism, etc., all as hereinafter set forth.

The primary object of my invention is to produce a practicable and efficient machine for the manufacture expeditiously, accurately and economically of tags and the like and particularly metallic tags such as those referred to above; nevertheless, the machine might be adapted without serious diiiiculty for other work or for manufacturing diderent kinds ot tags by changing the forms or shapes oit rthe punch and die members, more or less, and otherwise making alterations, all readily occurring to one skilled in the art and well Within the purview of my invention.

Other objects will present themselves in the course of the following description.

l attain the objects and secure the advanf tages of my inventionl by the' mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a iront elevation of a machine which embodies my invention in a practical form; Fig. 2, a lelith`and end elevation of such machine; Fig. 3, a detail of apart of the actuating mechanism for the eel-iollers;

Fig. 1l, a right-hand end elevation ot saidy machine; Fig. 5, an enlarged bottom plan ot the. stamp members, their holders and. associated part-s; Fig. 6, an enlarged top plan of 'the die members, their holders, therib-closers, the ytongue-benders, and associated parts, and of some of the lfeeding and actuating mechanism; Fig. 7, a detail of the starting and stopping mechanism of the machine; Fig. 8, an elevation oli' the driving-pulley from the inside; Fig'. 9, a detail in partial section of the locking and releasing members of said starting and stopping mechanism; Fig. l0, a detail, on a still larger scale than Figs. 5 and (S, of the feed-rollers and connected orconnecting members, the supporting and bearing parts for such rollers being in section taken on lines lll-10, looking in the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 1l; Fig. l1, a view taken on lines 11-11, looking in the direction oi' the associated arrow, in Fig. l0, and including in addition thesupplementary supporting means for the tag-receiving tube and the winding device for the skeleton orwaste portion oit' the strip; F ig. l2, a bottom view o1c 'the blankcutting punch, clamp and holder, this and the next thirteen Views being on the same scale as Figs. l0 and l1; Fifr. 13, a vertical section on lines l3-13, looking in 'the diret-, tion of the associated arrow, in Fig. l2; Fig. 14, a vertical section through the blanking die, the blank-replacing device, and the holder, taken on lilies 141-44, looking in the direction of the arrow a, in Fig. 6; Fig. l5,

a vertical section on lines 154-15, looking in the direction of the arrow b, in Fig. l, showing the rib-forming stamp, associated clamp, and the holder therefor in detail; Fig. itl, a vert-ical section on lines 1li-1G, looking in the direction of the arrow c, in Fig. 6, showing the rib-forming' die and its holder; Fig. 17, a detail of the clamp which coacts with 'the rib-closers, 'the view being taken on lines 17-l7, looking in the direction of the arrow d, ih Fig. 5; Fig. 18, a detail in partial section of the ribclosers or of the rib-closing mechanism, the same being as though taken approximately on lines l8=-18, looking in the direction o the arrow c, in Fig. 6; Fig. 19, a bottom View of one of the rib-closing slides; Fig. 20, a detail of the tongue-bending punch or stamp, clamp and holder, said detail being' a partial section on lines 20-20, looking in the direction of the arrow f, in Fig.` l; Fig. 2l, a sectionahdetail, onlines 21-2L looking in the direction of the arrow y, in Fig. 6, of the tonguefbending die members or plates and supporting' parts; F ig. 22, aY detail of the tongue-bender; Fig. 23, a front elevation'and' partial section of the printing apparatus, showing it out ci? printing position; Fig. 24, an elevation of said apparatus as viewed from the right-hand end of the machine, showing it in printing position; Fig. 25, a rear elevation of said apparatus, the parts standing as in the preceding View; Figs. 26 and 26a combined, a. large to plan of a portion of a strip handled by this machine in the production of tags and from which said tags are made, the portion herein appearing serving to illustrate the several steps in the process of manufacturing the tags, and, Fig. 27, a large perspectiye view of a complete tag.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The tag which this machine turns out consists of a face-piece h. and a tongue z', with inwardly-extending ribs and 7c on the interior of said face-piecev and tongue, respectively, intermediate of their ends, as best shown in the last view. The ribs y' and 7c are offset from each other so that they shut by when the tag is closed in attaching it to a textile or fabric article or articles to which it is applicable and for which it is designed, such as hosiery for example, that is to say, the' inner edges of such ribs pass each other so as to enable the ribs to obtain a firm hold on such article or articles.

The tags are made from a strip Z of thin sheet-metal, and, since said tags are employed to indicate the style, size, quality,\ price, etc., of the articles to whichthey are.

to be attached, it is desirable not to say necessary that their face-pieces h have a printing surface or a surface which can be printed upon readily, wherefore said metallic strip has a paper strip m imposed thereon and permanently affixed thereto, such paper strip being on the outer or upper surface of the metallic strip and covering enough of such surface in width tofprovide each tag or the face-piece of each tag with an outer integument of paper. Sheet-aluminum is one of the best materials for the strip Z. The prepared or papered strip Z is seen to best advantage in Figs. 2G and 2G,

The strip Z is fed through the machine and during its passage thereto tag-blanks 71, Fig. 26, are punched from said strip and replaced in the openings from which they are punched, rudimentary ribs 0 are struck down from such blanks, such rudimentary ribs are closed, as at p in Figs. 2G and 26a.

'to form the ribs and c, the tail-pieces g of the blanks are bent down, as at r in Fig. 26a, and then bent forward and left standing at an inclineto form the tongues i, and the face-pieces 7:, of the finished tags are printed upon. The tags are finally separated from' the strip Z and leave it a mere skeleton as represented at the left of the break in Fig. 26a. These operations will all be described fully in detail in the course of the .following description. The process through which the ltags pass from start to finish during the course of their manufacture does not dislodge the paper strip m from the metallic strip Z, hence a portion of such strip m must remain on each face-piece h.

Passing now to the machine itself, as illustrated, it will first be observed that the frame of such machine consists of a base 1, a bed 2 mounted on such base, and a table 3 mounted on such bed, such table having uprights or side pieces 4--4 and an upright or center piece 5 which rise from the ends and middle of the table behind the longitudinal center of the same and are connected at the I top so as to form a strong and stable supportfor the parts carried thereby. The aforesaid base, bed and table are rectangular in plan, and they are securely bolted together. Furthermore, they with their superstructure are heavy enough to afford the stability and rigidity necessary in a machine of this kind. Suitably journaled in bearings near the upper ends of the uprights 4 and 5 at the front is a horizontal, main-driving shaft 6 having a driving pulley 7 loose on its right-hand terminal. Tight on the end of the shaft G opposite thatwhich carries the pulley 7 and outside of the frame are an eccentric 8 and a bevel-gear 9, the latter at the left of the former. The shaft 6 is cranked, as indicated at 12-12, in Fig. 1, between the end uprights 4 and the center upright 5. and connecting-rods 19-19 are mounted at their upper termina-ls on the cranks thus formed. The bases of the connecting-rods 19 are pivotall'y connected, as indicated at in Fig. 1, with two stamp-plungers 23 and 24 mounted to reciprocate vertically in two pairs of way-blocks 25 which are securely bolted to the supports 4 and 5 in such .a manner that their front faces are flush with the front edges of said uprights. The lateral edges 26-26 of each plunger are V- shaped, and there are corresponding V- shaped grooves 27 in the contiguous edges of each pair of Way-blocks 25 to receive said edges 2G, all of usual construction and as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 5, 23 and 24. Bolts 28 tapped into the side pieces 4, and set-nuts 29, may be employed to take up wear between the plungers and the way-blocks, in the usual manner. The plungers 23 and 24 y are respectively provided on their bottoms with punchand stamp-holding blocks 30 and 31, such blocks being dovetailed into said plungers at 32#32 and wedged therein at 'S8-4&8. On the front of each plunger is a bracket 34 into which is fitted a pin or dog 35, such dog standing vertically and being rendered adjustable by means of suitable nuts 3G. The axes of the pins of the cranks 12 are in line with each other and the connecting-rods 19 are both of the same length, hence identically the same motion is iniparted to the plunger 23 that is imparted to tbe eeeeiL the other plonger, enel viceversa. 'lbis being true, it will be seen that one plunger might be substituted for the two, so fer es the merits of this invention are concerned, and in any eventtbe machine con be shortenerl considerably es plainlyv appears or will so appear before the en of this description is reecliecl.`

Suitebly Ijtmrneletl in bearings on the outer ieee of the leftliend siile piece t is e shaft 37 which carries :it its upper end e bevebgeer 38, in mesh with the bevel-gear 9, and at its lower end e=bevelgear 39.. The shaft 37' has backward inclination from the top, Suitebly-journeled in bearings on. the left-hand enel of the bed 2 is :i horizonte-l shaft-olii) Wlii li carries three bevel-gemelli, 42 enfle'l, tbe rst of these gears being in mesh with the bevel-gear 39. Suitably journeled in the bed 2, et right-ongles to the shaft 40, are two horizontal, parallel shafts 44C end e5 which respectively Corry on their leftlizind ends bevel-gears i6 and 4:7, the former vmeshing with the bevel-gear 4:2 and' tbe letter with the -bevelgeer 43. There is o Worin i8 on the right-'liano enol of tbe shaft fili, which Worin drives e Worm- Wheel i9 carriedl :it tbe lower terminal of e vertical shaft 5G, the latter being suitably joorneled in bearings on the upper fece of the right-hand side piece 4. ,There nretwo intermediate bevel-gears 5i and 52 on tbe beck shaft liet, and there is' en intermediate bevel-gear 53 on the front sbot i5. Monnted'in suitable bearings on the table 3, neer the Jiront edge thereof, is e shaft 5i: which carries e ratchet-Wheel 5'? and :tbeveL gear 56 on. its left-henri terminal, with zidisk 55 between, and s bevellgeer 58 on its riglitlienol A pewl 59, for :i ratchet- Wlieel 57, pivoteclet 60 to the outer fece of tbe flisli 5,5, and soeket Si, which csirries e spring-presses@ pin eetoete seid pewl into eonteet with the ratchet-Wheel teeth, is also attached to tbe outer feieeof seiol disli. A eonne@ting-roelv G3, inelineol from above downward end rel, hes its upper enel mount eeeent c 8 enel. its lon/er en L' ,1 against tbe ner ieee o elle i li' by ineens oi 6, the f loose on ol pew'l miei motion elisir 55, vv tbe. sli-sift i tlia en reteliet is irriteert@ oi tbe e Sirio@ pulley by wspring G7 pocketed in seicl bolt :nid projecting from tlie left-bend end; of the seine to beer against tbe corresponding end of the slot provided in seiol coller to receive said bolt; and lugs 68 which provide recesses in the hub oi seid pulley to receive the right-hand end of the bolt, when seid bolt is actuated toward sei lieb by seid spring, The ports just mentioned ere clearly shown in Figs. 8 alici 9.

The clutch bolt is controlled by starting :ind stopping mechanism which comprises the following parts ami members, as illustroteol in Figs. l, i ami 7 arm 69 pivoted et its rear end, et 70, to the right-bend 'side piece' et, extending forwarci beneath the coller 66, and having o .beveled front end Yi which is adopted to enter a slot 72 in the bolt 65; on upwardly, spring-pressed pin .73 carriell in e. socket ion the aforesaid side piece, and bearing against the lower edge of soifl erin to 'tension the seme upvverol with seitl beveled emi 7l in seid slot or in the path' of the left-'bami eclge of the slot; e lever 75 having its roer enel pivoted et 76 to seid side piece; e connecting-roel 77 having its upper endl pivoted et 78 to the arm G9, enti its lower enel pivotecl et 79 to said lever; an opstanding latch 89 pivote@ at 81 to e suitable extension from seid sicie piece, enoiliovinge licei-z 82 edlepterl to engage the upper erige of tile lever; e horizontal roeksheft 83 suitably journelefi in bearings on said side piece, emi provided with .two rockererins 8iend 85, the former emi longer one in front of the latter; e. vertieel connectingeroo 86 having its upper end pivoted et 87 to seid roeltererin 8e, enel its lower' end pivotefl et 88 to e treeflle 89, find o com 99 fest on. tbe shaft 5G". -The treedle 89 is mounted' on e rooie-shaft 91; suitably jonrnelecl in lie bese l. The spring 92, which .is in tlie soelet 741- beneetli 'tbe pin 73, is stronger than the bolt sg Si', therefore, owingto the slmpe oi tbe bevele enti. 7l of tbe erin G9, when. seiol erin is feleesei to seiol spi 92; tbe forces the upward en@ the beveled of seid 7i is presented to the left-bens n slot 72 in the bolt i tliot seid, bolt is i@ i ino on of tbe ineeli onrein driver b is festene to veli lM l. against seid ie isA olrmvn ole.

the lever 75 with the hand until the latch hook 82snaps into place above said lever, because then the arm 69 is depressed against the resiliency of the spring 92, through the medium of the connecting-rod 77, the end or part 71 is drawn out of engagement with the bolt 65, and the spring 67 acts to thrust said bolt to the right into one of the recesses, 1petween the lugs 68. in the hub of the pule 7. nisfm driven thereby or therefrom is now set in motion by the pulley. The mechanism can be stopped by depressing the treadle 89, since the rocker-arm 84 is then drawn down, through the medium of the connecting-rod 86, and the rocker-arm 8.5, on the same rockshaft with the rocker-arm 84 and situated to engage -the beveled edge of the latch 80 above the hook 82, actuates said latch so as to disengage said hook from the lever 75, and the latter being thus released permits the arm 69 to respond to the spring 92 and the part 71 to force the bolt 65 out of engagement with the pulley.

The clutch is thrown out by means of the tieadle 89 at such times as may be necessary for any purpose during what may be termed a run of the machine, but such disconnection is automatically produced at the end Iof each run by means of Athe cam 90. By a run 1s meant the required operations of the machine and its mechanism `necessary to produce a given number of tags, fifty for example, the same being received in t-lie present instance on a triangular tube -94 which has to be removed when it receives its complement of tags. Without some automatic means to stop the machine when the receiving tube 94 is full, injury to the tags or to the mechanism would be liable to occur, therefore the worm 48, worm-wheel 49, shaft 50, and cam 90 are provided. The meshing members are so proportioned and timed that, when fifty tags have 'been run out on the tube 94, the high part of the cam 90 contacts with the tail of, the latch 80, and actuates said latch against the resili- .ency of its spring 93 to disengage its hook when the arm 69 draws in the manner and by The machine from the levei' 75, back the bolt G5 the means before explained.

starts again when the lever 75 is swung down once more, the high part of the cam 81 having by this time passed beyond or back of the tail of the latch 80. -The direction of rotation of the shaft 50, which carries the cam 81, is indicated bythe adjacent arrow, in Fig. 6.-

The stripl is fed from a supply-roller or reel 95 having its trunnions 96 mounted lin standards 97-97 secured at their bases to a bracket 98 fastened against the left-hand ends of the-bed 2 and table 3. From the roller 95 the strip Z passes between upper and under feed-rollers 99-99, through a The shaft 6l and-all of the mecha-` suitable run-way or guide-way presentlv to be described, and between upper and under feed-rollers 100 and 101, respectively, the first pair of feed-rollers being at the lefthand end Aof such guide-way, and the second pair of feed-rollers being at the xright-hand end of such guide-way. The lower feedroller 99 is tight on a horizontal shaft 102 mounted in suitable bearings on the table 3, and extending at right-angles to the shaft 54 behind the same. The shaft 102 ,carries on its front end a bevel-gear 103 which meshes with the bevel-gear 56 on the shaft 54. The lower feed-roller 101 is tight on a second shaft 1027 which is similarly mounted and situated to the first shaft 102,

and carries at its front end a bevel-gear 105 which meshes with the bevel-gear 58. Tight on the rear end of each shaft 102 and 102 is a gear 106. A U-shaped bracket 107 constitutes a part of the bearing or bearings for each shaft 102 and 102', and in the front and back sides of this bracket, between which sides are located the feed-rollers associated Itherewith, two bearing-blocks 108 are so arranged that they have some verticalI movement. These bearing-blocks are received in vertical slots 109-109 `in the aforesaid front and back sides or uprights of the bracket, and said blocks have flanges on the inside to bear against the inside faces of said uprights, as bestl shown in Fig. 11, and assist in guiding the blocks in their up and down movement. A shaft 110 isrjournaled in each pair of bearing-blocks 108, and has either the upper feed-roller 99 or t-he upper feed-roller 100 tight thereon, said shaft also has at its back endva gear 111 which meshes with the gear 106 below. The shaft 110,y at the right-hand end of the machine, has a pulley 112 tight thereon inside of the associated gear 111. The bearing-blocks 108, in each bracket 107, are tensioned downwardly by means of two vertical springs 113 pocketed in said blocks and bearing at their upper ends against enlargements on the lower ends of vertical adjusting screws 114-e114 tapped into and through caps 115 which are bolted to the tops of the bracket uprights across the upper ends of the slots 109. By loosening'the set-nuts, with which the screws 114 are pro-y vided, and turning said screws up-or down the tension on the springs 113 is decreased or increased accordingly, and so also is the tension of the associated upper feed-roller` on the associated lower feed-roller or on the strip Z between. The'feed-rollers andassociated parts and members are fully disclosed.k

feed-rollersl and 100 and the gears 111. This means comprises a rock-shaft 104 journaled in. he 'two caps 115 on each bracket T. pei-Hillel with ille adjacent shaft- 110, und provided on ils from end Willi im arm 111'; hnl exilends inwardly from said rocio shafl in'o the pain of iii-:wel of the nearer dog 35. and 'furlher provided wilh on arni 11i' 'ha extends "from said rock-sha'i'i in he opposile direci'ion olhal of said urn; 11G :ind is shorler il un the leiter erin, a hor;- ./loniul rod or prol pin 115xl extending' bolli ways :from l'he ouler end o1' said erin 11i', a horizonal rod or pii'ol pin 11S) extending heiween the learing-l'ilocks 108 in said hi'aclie, above Ahe upper feed-roller in ille hraclie, :ind a pair of rerliczil links 12() con-` neciing said pins. Un lhe i'ree end of he lofi-hand arin 1113 is a forwurdly-pi'ojeciing handle 121. by means o which Such arni can he operated h i' hand. ,li will nonv he seen limi, when the plungers 221 and '2.1 descend :ind :is they approach ihe lower end of `lli-efr rnvel, the dogs eneounler ihelong rockerurins 1115 and swing lhein downward, and ihzxi said arins in urn rock he shafts' 10-1 rind swing' lhe short rocker-arms 11T npii'ard, and so raise vhe upper feed-rollers from. the lower feed-rollers or from the inl'erposed strip lhrough the inediuin oil' the links 120 and intervening parts; and iliat when said pioneers rise said upper feedrollers aire released ilo the influence o1' `the springs 113. which loller iniinedialely :ich to force ihe lie:iilng-l loels 108 downward again and the upper leed-rollers onto lhe lower feed-rollers or ille inierposed strip. ll'iihonl; soine means o1? lhis kind to separate ihe feed-rollers so as lo release the strip Z, 111e accru-nie spacing of Athe lag-forming ineinhers in seid sirip would not he possible, lhere would lie considerable Wasie of maierinl. and rho uniform action of the machine would he interfered willi. Such separation must and does occur el Iehe instant the punching and forming actions lake place, as will lie explained liereinaiiil'er.

rThe two feed-rollers 5,)9 and the feed-roller 100 are subsianlizilly alike. but the 'eedroller 1111 has a groove in its periphery of such shape and size as 'lo allow he 'lags lo pass ont onio the tulle 9-1. The groove 122 does noi. however, inierfere with 'lhe action of the feed-roller 101 on the skeleton part of lhe sii-ip such peri. being; indicated at 8 in lfigs. 11 and QW. so 'that such parl is fed forward oy Vdie feed-rollers 100 and 101 just as ii was 'fed forward in lhe i'irst place, While in lhe Whole and unbroken condiion of ehe original slrip, hy the two feed-rollers 99 et 'ihe opposiie or entrance end of the machine.

'llhe guide-nay or channel for the sirip Z, i hereinbe fore referred lo, is made up of dies v ond die members supported in and on dieso elevate he shriis 110 with die upper f holding blocks 123,

124 and 125. -ind cover or iop plates 126, 127-12T, and 12S-128, lhese paris heine' between lhe two pairs of feed-rollers and under ihe plunger blocks 30 and E31. Said guide-Way or channel will he Jfound at 121) in a nuinher of ihe views. The blocks 123. 121 and 125 ere holied io ll'he 'lop of ilie table 23 in ihe order named from left to righi. ylille plaie 126 is :hisiened lo he lop oi' lhe block 193, fornis ilie sides und lop of ihe i'irsi seclion of die channel 12D. as shown in llig's. G, 111 and 1G, and cnl out al 130 and 131. as shown in 191g. o; the plaies 12T are spaced iipiirt and fasi'eued lo lhe vlop of the block 121 lo forni 'the sides und open lop o1' lhe second seclion of said channel, and hey are cut away at 1212-432. 11s shown in Figs. 13 and C)1; and he plates 12S are spaced apiir and fastened io ille iop oi lhe lilocl; io forni ihe sides and open lop of the third section of seid channel, :is shown in Figs. o, S22 and 211. 1`h\ adjacenl ends of the plaies 1215 and 12T are spaced ripari. and he adjacent ends of said pluies 127 and the plaie 128 are spaced Lipari. als is clearly seen in Fig. 1S, and 'the adjacenl ends of lhe blocks 1523, 121 and 125 are spaced apariin 'the suine wey as inst in- 'liniated r1`he hotl'oni of the channel 129 eouss'fs oir' ihe dies and die nieniheis subse- (pienl'ly described. A. 'triangular supporting lugl 138, for the inner end of ihe tube 911, ex- Vtends io the righi 'roui ille corresponding end of he iueinher 'dial here -forms the hotloin of `lhe channel 129, in 'front of ifhe 1ongiiodinal cenler of said chennel--see Figs. 4, 13. 10, 23 :ind 241.-. ihe ou'ier end of elle tube .(2-1 is supporied on a iriangulai lug 134 which extends from the right-hand end of n sliding; block 135. The block i155 isl mounted on ii bracket- 1313 which is fastened on a rod 13?. the latter being supported on lthe door or otherwise ai ihe righi; of the machine proper. rThe block 135 has a part on the liotioin ihet is received in e groove 188 in 1the bracket 136, and Ksaid loloch is secured lo said bracket by means of e 'thumb-screw 131) which passes through a slot lei() in Jrhe bracke ino threaded engagement ivi-ih he block. 71`he groove 138 and the slot 1410 are parallel Willi each oher and with the tube 111. These parts aire shown in Fig. 11.

a rlhe tribe Se passes under ihe feed-roller 100. in 'the groove 1:22 in the feed-rollerlGl. 1`he distance which separates said Luhe :from said feed-roller 100, when the letter is down on ihe skeleton pari s o1 the strip Z, is ai iriile less than ihe ihicliness of said srip, so fhat lhe feed-roller 100 can eci; on the 'lags 'lo actuele hein along on said 'lube-3 provided the iiclion of ihe moving' srip does not do lhis with suficienbaccuracy and regulari'y. The arrows in Fig. 11 indiciie the direcions of ro'el'ion oi' lhe right-hand feed-rollersL The lube 91 is released and removed from the machine by loosening the thumb-screw 139, sliding the block 135 to the right far enough to free the adjacent end of said tube from the lug 134 and from the block, and then drawingthe tube off of the lug 133 and out from between the feed-rollers 100 and 101; and the tube is placed in position by yfirst passing through the groove 122 and A winding-roller or reel, 141, provided with a pulley 142, is mounted loose on a stud 143 which projects forward from the supporting rod 137 above the bracket 136* Fig. 11. The roller 141 has one or more longitudinal slits 144 in its periphery to receive the end of the skeleton or waste part s of the strip lZ, it being upon thisroller that such waste part of said strip is wound and so taken out of the way of the machine and of the newly formed tags vas saidv part leaves the feed-rollers 100 and 101. A cross-belt 145 connects the pulley'142 with the pulley 112 and thus drives the roller 141 in the proper direction to wind up the aforesaid waste.

, ,A roller or rod 300 may be located in convenient relation to the roller 100, between the waste portion s of the strip andthe tags, or between the positions assumed by these parts when the machine is in active operation, to serve as a guide for such waste portion upon emergingfrom between said roller 100 and the roller 101 and to. insure the proper separation of said portion from said tags, such roller or rod being mounted in brackets 301-301 fastened to the right-hand edges of the bracket 107 at this end ot the machine.

I will next take up in detail the punches and stamps, dies, and other formers, commencing at the left-hand of the groups or sets of the same and describing them in order. Some of these members are denominated as follows: a stamp or punch 146. round in cross-section and flat on the bottom, and a spacer or finder 14", also round in cross-section like said punch and of the same diameter but pointed at the bottom and longer than said punch, and a die-plate 148 for said punch and finder; a stamp or punch 149, a die 150, and a replacer 151, each having a configuration which corresponds to that of a tag-blank n; punches or stamps 152 and 153, and a die 154, the two former respectively having on their bottoms V- shaped ribs 155 and 156 which/are received into two V-shaped grooves 157 in said lastmentioned die; a clamp 158,an anvil 159, and two rib-closers '160; va tongue-bending punch or stamp 161, and four bed or die plates 162--162a and 163-463, a clamp 164 similar to the clamp 158, an anvil 165, and

a tongue-bender 166; a second spacer or v cured in the plunger-block 30, adjacent to Y the lefthand end, in the same manner as the tops of other holders are secured therein and which will be explained in connection with one of such other holders. The punch 146 and the finder 147 respectively operate through holes 171v and 172 in the plate 126, Fig. 6, and-respectively in passages indi cated by dotted lines at 173 and-174, in Fig. 1, in'the die-plate 148 below said first-mentioned holes, a portion of such platev appearing in Fig.' 14. The member 146 punches holes t in the-strip Z,`Figs. 26 and 26a, for the finders 147 and 167. and said inders insure the proper spacing apart. of the tag members in said strip, as will be made clear in the description of the operation of the machine. T he parts cut from the strip Z b v the punch 146 are the only parts, excepting the tags, that are cut out and removed from said strip, and the passage 173 is extended downward through the block 123 and the table 3 so as to enable said first-mentioned parts or punchings to escape and thus avoid clogging the mechanism.

The blank-cutting punch 149 is a vertical member fastened to a holder 175 by a plate 176 bolted to the left-hand side of said holder. The holder 175 is secured to the block 30, in the same way as the other holders, at tthe right of the holder 169. In ad-. dition to the punch 149, the holder 175 is equipped with a square clamp 177 supported below said holder by means of a vertical stem 178 which is introduced from below into a passage 179 in the holder at the rightv of the punch and has a` screw-threaded upper terminal for an adjusting nut 180 and a setlnut- 181, a spring 182 being interposed in said passage between the top of the same and a shouldered part of said stem to tension the clamp downward-see particularly Figs. 12 and 13. The threaded terminal of the stem 178 passes through the top of the plate 126 and bear on'the strip Z below durmg the punching and replacing operations. n

The die 150, Fig. 14, has an opening therethrough to receive the punch 149, such openmg being shaped like the working tace of flush with the topof said die. y

-ing face has thel same outline as that of the bers,` the passage 184 being below the pasried -,by-the` replacer, Lto lii'nit 'the upward l movement'. 'lof said-replacer. The .replacer proper rsesffromfaround head 187 at the i topoffastem .188, 'and'saijd stem'rests on or receives againstits lower end 'a base-'piece `1989 iii'rhichv has ajchamberj190therein and 3 f opening` through the 'bottointhereoi The l threaded part. The Stem! 188 "operates flange 1,94, such recess beinga trifle deeper tically-movable parts are tensioned upward,

sab

Aso that such a blank is punched out of the vcal passages 183 andv 184A are provided in vtov rthereplacer,` .The stem l188 Ais screwthreaded. below the head l187, 'as shown at .basepiece is covered by acap 195 bolted to Vdownivvard movement of the replacerby rea- `rests on or y.bears against the shouldered vpart said die, and both being like a tag-blank n,

puncli 149 and of the die opening. Vertithe'block 123 vand the-table y3, respectively, for the replacer 151 and itsy coacting inemsage 183. In thev passage 188,' at the upper end between an annularshoulder'and the die'150, is Yan annularstop`plate185 against which strikes a. cuplshaped sleeve186, 'carbaselpifecef189 isl in' the. passage 184; The head '1 8Tflts the-sleeve 186 to `add stability 191, 'and the'sleeve 1,86 and a round set-nut 19,2v vfor, sai-d sleeve are `screwed lon, to such through a centeringandguiding"block 193 fixed in the 'passage183.7 ',The base-piece 189 has van exterior, annular 'flange 194 at the bottom which limit-s'the rise of said basepiece by contacting with the under side of the table 3. This protruding end of the the bottom of the'table 3. yThe lcap 195 has an annular recess 196 therein to receive the than the combined thickness of said flange and the strip l., The' cap 195 limits the son of the fact that the base-piece strikes with its lower end the bottom of the groove 196 when suoli movement occurs. The Averas far as is permitted by the stop members, y means of ay spring'197 in the chamber 190. .The spring 197 vbears between the top ofthe chamber 190 and a washer 198 which of a spindle 199 tapped into and through the cap 195. The spindle 199fi`s'p`roridcd' with the yusual set-init below the cap'.

"Whenthel holder175 descends, the clamp 177 entersv the opening 130 and comes to rest V on the strip Z in the channel 129 and securely l holds said strip between said clamp and the die 150, and as said holder continues to descend the spring 182 is still further compressed and so increases the tension on said strip and holds it even more securely. Ofcourse the sides of the channel 129 assist in holding the strip, not only at this but at all times. The continued downward movement of the holder 175 forces the punch 149 through'tlie strip and cuts out a .blank n,

the replacer 151 yielding at the same time, owing to the presence ofV the spring 197, and receiving such blank as 1t is pushed into the die. Having descended far enough to cut out the blank, the punch 149 ascends, and the replacer follows it, under the influence 'of 'the spring 197,1and returns the blank to the place which it occupied in the strip before it was cut therefrom, or replaces it in said strip,I before the clamp 177 releases the strip. By the time the replacer has replaced the blank and arrived at its high position, the punch leaves said blank, and thenV the clamp rises clear of the strip, although vthrust downward by the spring 82 as far as 'the nut 180 will permit. l't should be noted that the blank is grasped firmly between tli'e punch and the replacer during the punching.' Iand replacing operations. The object in replacing each blank in the strip is for the purpose of utilizing said strip as a conveyor forthe blanks or tag-formingineinbers throughout the entire process, and thus being able to make one `machine do the work of several and do it to the best advantage.

Next tothe right of the holder 175 is a holder 200 for the stamps 152 and 153. There is a longitudinal channel 201 in the underside of each of the blocks and 81, the back edge of which is undercut, and it is inV one or the other of these channels that vthe holders for the different punches or Stamps and associated, upper, tag-forming `instruments or devices' are received and held, the upper portion of each holder being made flaring infront and rear and a wedge bar 202 being' employed, as shown in Figs.

45 15, 17, 20 and 24. The back edge of each kbar 202 is inclined to meet the corresponding inclination on the front of the holder 200, or .of any companion holder. and said bar fits into one of the channels 201, that in the block 30 for said holder 200, and is there securely bolted in place. The holder 200 is provided with a central clamp 203 which has a. stein 204 that extends upward into a passage 205 in said holder` a spring 206 heilig employed in said passage between the upper. end thereof andashouldered part -'of said stein to tension said clamp downward as far as nuts` similar to the nuts 180 and 181. on the upper, threaded terminal of the stein will permit. A recess 207 is provided in the part or parts above the terminal of each stem 178 and 204 to accommodate such terminal and the nuts thereon,

also for the stem of each of the other two clamps. The stamps 152 and 153 are secured to the holder 200 by means of front and back plates 208 which are bolted to said holder. The stamp 152 is in front of the clamp 203 and the stamp 153 behind said clamp. The rib 156 on the stamp 153 is shorter than the rib 155 on the stamp 152, and these ribs operating in conjunction with the grooved parts 157 of the die 154 produce the rudimentary ribs 0-0 in each blank n. The rudimentary rib 0 in the body part of the blank n is struck down by `the stamp rib 155, and the rudimentary rib 0 in the tail of said blank is struck down by the stamp rib 156. The clamp 203 is arranged and adapted to enter the opening 131 in the plate 126. The die 154: is set and held firmly in a channel 209 (similar to the channels 201) in the block 123 by means of a wedge bar 210 (similar to the bars 202) bolted in place in said channel 209.

In practice, having .special reference to Figs. 1, 5, 6, 15 and 16.v when the holder 200 descends the clamp 203 enters the opening 131 and presses hard on' the strip Z before the stamps 152 and 153 act to strike down the rudimentary ribs 0 from the blank n be tween said stamps and the die 154, the action of said clamp and the effect produced by such action being very similar to the action and effectdescribed in connection with the clamp 177, with this exception: 1n the first case the clamp 177 does not bear on that part of the strip Z from which the blank is cut nor upon the blank after being cut out, while in the second case the clamp 203 bears on a part of the blank as well as on adjacent parts of the strip. Since the blank is clamped in the middle laterally, the short ening resulting from the ac tion of the stamp ribs 155 and 156, whereby the rudimentary ribs 0 are produced, occurs at the ends.

Next in order is a holder 211 for the clamp 15S which is directly over the anvil 159. The clamp 158 is long enough to cover the blank and it is designed to hold the saine securely on the anvil 159 when the rib closers 160 act to transform the rudimentary-ribs 0 0 into the perfected ribs j and 7c. This clamp has a stein in a passage in the holder, with nuts on the upper terminal of said stein, and a spring to tension said clamp downward, as shown in Fig. 17, which are just like corresponding parts in Fig. 15. The anvil 159 is located between the ends .of

the blocks 123 and 124, and the uppermost.

edge of said anvil is on a level with that portion of the bottom of the channel 129 that extends to theright from the die 154 and has longitudinal parallel grooves 212 therein which are a continuation of the grooves 157, and with the adjacent'ends of the die-plates 162 and 163 so' that said uppermost edge forms part of the bottom of said channel tral portion.

which is continuous at this point in its cen- The length of the aforesaid uppermost edge of the anvil is equal to-.the

distance between the aforesaid grooves, and

tltc front and back edges of the anvil drop i down vertically from the ends of said uppermost edge as shown in Fig. 18.l 1t is against the front and back'edges just mentioned of the anvil that thel working faces, lthat is, the

inner or adjacent ends, of the rib-closers 160 operate, or rather it is between said edges and said faces that the "rudimentary ribs oyare closedto form the ribs 'and 7c. 'l

The rib closers 160 are horizontal bars for whichl horizontal, vreciprocating slides l or carriers 213-213, Figs. 6 and 18, are provided. Each rib-closer is received in 'its carrier 213 and projects well Vbeyond the inner end-of the same. A plate 214 is bolted to each carrier over the rib-closer therein to assist in retaining the latter in place, 'and a horizontal adjusting bolt 215 is tapped`into the outer terminal of said carrier and eX- tends inward to bear against the outer end of said rib-closer for the purpose of holding the saine against outward displacement and to afford means for adjusting the rib-closer and determining the amount of its inward to slide 1n suitable longitudinalv grooves in V, two supporting blocks 216 bolted on the top of the table 3 in front of and behind the longitudinal. center of said table and arranged at right-anglesto said center.y Reciprocating motion is imparted to the front carrier 213 through the medium of a vertical shaft 217 journaled in the corresponding block 216 and provided with a vertical cranl'epin 218, which rises from its head into operative connection with said carrier,and having a bevel-gear 219 on its lower terminal inA mesh with the bevel-gear 53 on the shaft L15. The crank-pin 218 enters an opening 220 in rectangular slide 221 which operates'in aftransverse groove 222 in the underside of the carrier, hence as said pin is car.-

ried around by the shaft 217 said carrier isreciprocated, said slide travelingA back and forth in said groove to bring about this result and convert the rotary motion of the shaft into a reciprocating motion for the carrier. Similar means is employed for reciprocating the rear carrier 213, the motion in this case being derived from the vbevelgea'r 51 on the shaftlf The driving or4 actuating mechanisms for the ytwo rcarriers are yso set or arranged relatively that the rib-elosers are caused to approach each other and recede from each other in exa-ct synchronism.

The tongue-bending kstamp 161 operatesV in conjunction with a clamp'223, Figs. 1, 5 and20, and both are similar in construction and operation to the punch 149 and the clamp 177, and are similarly secured to escaso and operatively connected with a holder 224, whichholderis the last one at the righthand end of the block 30, excepting that the stamp 161 is behind the stem 178 of the clamp 228 instead of at the left of it as in the other case, and said stamp is adapted by reason of its shape and location tc engage the tail of the blanlr n, and the tail only, for the purpose of turning said tail down so that it will stand et right-angles to the body portion of said blank. descending enters the openings 132 in the plates 12T and presses the blank n herd againstv the bottoni ot the channel 129 at this point, such bottoni here being i'orined by abutting ends of the plates 162t and 163 and adjacent portions of the plates 162a and 16E-5a.v A vertical slot 225 is out out of the plate 16e? and down into the block 1211 be heath, Figs. 6 and 21, in proper position to receive the stainp 161 when it descends, togather with the tail or tongue bent down by said stamp. A Alengitudinai groove 226, ior thetag rib j, extends from the right-hand end of the rontgroove 212 throughout the entire lengths or the plates 162 and 163, and continues across the anvil 166 and through l v outv the entire length of a bed-plate 22E. lt

may be noted here that the bed-plate 227 and a companion bedfpiate 22?a together com prise the last section of the bottoni of' the channel 129; furthermore, that the nianuer of securing the plates 162, 163, and 163EL to the block l2 i, and the plates 222i and 22'?n to the block 125, is apparent upon inspection of Figs. 6, fl and 2li. A longitudinal groote 226 for the txagrib It' entends, in the plate 16221, from the right-hand end oit the back grow/e212 to thel slot 225. livlihen the blanlr n arrives with its teil over the slot or recess 225, said blank. is clamped and the tail bent down over the front edge ol said recess by thestalnp 161. approximately central, longitudinal, vertical slot 229, Figs.

6 and 22, which is'the spacebetvveen adjacent edges of the plates 163 and 1632, such plates being spaced apart for the purpose, leads from the recess 225 to the opposite ends of said plates, and itis this slotthrough which the downwardly-extending tag tongue passes as the blank is actuated from the .place where seid tongue was' bent straight down lto that Where it is to be bentorwsrd at an incline.

The clamp v164, practically identical in all respects with the clamp 15.8, is similarly arranged in a holder 230 secured to the plunger-block 31 adjacent to the left-hand end thereof. This holder is also similar to the holder 211. The clamp 164 secures the strip 'Z and holds the blank on the anvil 165 while the tonguebender 166 cornesl up'be hind the tongue and deccts it out of a vertical position, leaving said tongue 4with a for ward incllnation, so 'that the tug, of which The clamp y223 in `'the shaft del.

such tongue constitutes a part, when 1inished, can be readily closed on and attached to'any suitable article. The blank, which has now been almost transformed into a finished tag, when it arrives on the anvil 165 has its tongue depending7 straight down over the bach edge of .said anvil, as show in Fig. lWith said back edge of the anvil as a fulcruin the bender 166 deflects the tongue out of the perpendicular, when said bender advances, owing to the/fact that said anvil is undercut below. said edge, being slanted downward and forward therefrom, and to the further fact that the upper. forward portion or terminal of `said bender is slanted in a corresponding manner or parallel with the first-mentioned slanted surface, as shown. The manner in which the tonguebender 166 is mounted and the inode of its operation are the same as has been described in connection with the rib-closets 160, the carrier 213 for said bender being` recipro-` cated in a third block 216 by a third bevelgear 219, in mesh with the bevel-gear 52 on The third block 216 is behind the space between the blocks 121i and 125, and the tongue-bender when actuated forward enters the space left between adjacent endsoii the plates 163 and 222%, and advances to a point between the plates 163 and 222v under the rearwardly-projecting part oi' the anvil 165. As will have already been observed, the anvil 165 is situated between the blocks 121 and 125 and between the plates 163 and 227'. rlihe plates 22T and 22"(LL are spaced apart and their adjacent edges are inclined forward outof the perpendicular, instead of being vertical like the sides ci the slot 229, to form a slot 231, Figs. 6 and 2l, for the passage of the tag 'tongue in its new condition of deflection. The top oi' the slot 231 is in line with the t'op out the slot 229, The lug 133 proiects from the outer end of the plate 227y in front oi the corresponding end of 'he slot 231 and in position to support the tube 9st at its inner end and in proper relation to the facepieces and the tongues of the tags as they advance, so that said tags can readily pass out onto said tube. The second inder, 167, is fastened, by means oi' a back plate 232 and bolts, in a holder 233 which depends from the plunger-block 3l near the outer end oi" said block. This ndcrand the holding means therefor are similar to the iinder 147 and lits holding means, and thevollice of the second is identical with that of the irst. The finder 167. when depressed. passes through one of the holest into e vertical opening or passage 234i-, Fig. 6, in the' plate Y 227B. Y At the right of the holder 233 and immediately adiacentil to the outer end of the block `31 is e holder 285 which supports the type- Whcel sot 168, such holder being secured at its upper end in said block just as the other holders are secured either in this or the other plunger-block. The bottom characters on the typewheel set are printed on the face-piece 7L, back of the crease therein, when the tag arrives beneath said characters and said set descends, such face-piece then being on the plate 227 with the tongue z' in the slot 231. The type-wheel set comprises four, more or less, disks with the characters on their periphery, and these disks are mounted loose on a horizontal stud 236 which is'sup ported by two arms 237 that are fastened to the holder 285 and extend below the same; Each of the aforesaid disks has a series of holes 238 therein to receive a pin 239, which in also passes through holes in the arms 237. When the pin 239 is withdrawn, the disks can be turned to formany desired combination of characters Within the scope of the device, then said pin is replaced, by inserting it in the holes provided in the arms 237 to receive it and in the disk holes 238 which aline with each other and with sa-id first-mentioned holes, for the purpose of locking the Vparts together. See more particularly, in this connection, Figs. 28 and 24.

Although 1 prefer to employ the paper strip m, the same might be omitted, and in that event it would be necessary to construct the printing disks so that they would punch their characters into the metal of the tag, provided it were still desired to mark the tag in this machine, but with the present and preferred arrangement such characters are printed, hence an inking device and operating mechanism therefor is required, such as I have illust-rated in Figs. 23, 24 and 25. This inking device and its mechanism are described as follows: A hanger 240 is fastened against the back side of the plunger 24, and this hanger consists in part of two rearwardly-extending members 241 between which are mounted three ink-supply rollers 242, 243 and 244, the shaft 245 of each of said rollers being journaled in said hanger members. The shafts 245 of the middle roller 243 and the roller 244 below that are bear with its free received at each end in horizontal slots 24644246 in each member 241, and said shafts are tensioned rearwardly in said slots by means of a spring 247 at each end which spring is attached at the center to a pin 248, projecting from the outer face of said member 241, and is arranged so as to terminals on the front of the shafts. The ink-supply rollers are arranged one above the other, as shown, and an open-bottom ink reservoir or tank 249 is adjustably supported in roper relation to the roller 242 byl means cfa lug 250, which projectsy rearwardly from a supporting plate 251 for said tank, and a spring 252 on alug 253v that projects rearwardly hanger 240 through aslot 254 1n said plate,

from the l a l verticali adjusting screw 255 passing through said lug 250'and said spring into threaded engagement vwith said lug 253. The screw 255 is shouldered above the lug 250, and the spring 252 bearing as it does between said lug and the lug 258 below retains the lug 250 in contact with the shouldered part of the screw. By turning the screw 255 up or down the amount of space between the open bottom of the ink-tank and the roller 242 is increased or decreased accord. ingly, since the spring 252 actsfvonthe one hand to raise the vertically-movalolemembers, and the lug 250 is forced downward, against the resiliency of said spring, nearer the lug 253 on the otherhand The inksupply rollers are locatedy in the i'ield of action of a rotatable inking-disk 256 mounted on an oscillatory arm 257, whensaid disk is in its elevated position, and so transfer ink from the 'tank 249 tothe facegof said disk. The springs 247 project the rollers 243 and 244 into the path of the inking-diskin such a way that, when said disk isA elevated, it must force said rollers forward a little against the resiliency of said springs, hence the necessary degree of forcible Contact between rollers and disk to properly ink thek latter is obtained. This is made possible by the slots 246. The arm 257 is pivoted intermediate of its ends, at 258 to a suitablysupported bracket 259, andcarries' the ,inking-disk 256 at its front end. The arm 257 supports and oscillates the inking-disk in a vertical plane which encroaches somewhat on the peripheries of the yrollers 243 and 244 at the back, but clears the roller 242 and is some distance behind the type-wheel set 168,- the axis of said disk being at right-angles to' the axes of said rollers and said type-wheel set. The inking-disk -is also behind the block 25. Fast on the back of the disk 256 is a ratchet-wheel 260, and these members are mounted loose on a stud 261 which is secured to the front end of the'arm 257. A pawl 262 has its base pivoted at 263 to an upright 264, and is pressed into engagement with t-he teeth on they ratchet-wheel 260 by a spring 265 which is also attached to said upright. The upright 264 is fastened to the back side of the base of the block 25 and supports the pawl 262 in operative position relative to the .ratchet-wheel 260. A vertical connecting-rod 266 has its upper end pivoted at -267 to the back side of the plunger 24, and its lower end pivoted at 268 to therear end of ythe arrnv257. r1`herefore, as theplunger 24 rises and falls, the connectinglrod 266 rocks the arm 257 on its pivot 258 andcauses the inking-disk to Vbe,y lowered ad raised accordingly; and every timel said' disk is lowered its ratchet-wheel 260. is-pafrtially rotated by thepawl 262, and soisi'fthe disk, and every time said disk kis raisedgsaidv ratchet-wheel clicks by sai'd Ipawl .into yposi tion to be further rotated when next the disk descends. Thus it is that the inking-disk is intermittently brought into contact with the two lower ink-supply rollers and rotated so as to ink all parts of the face of the disk and regularly present fresh portions of its inked surface to an ink-transfer roller 269.

The ink-transfer roller 269 is mounted loose at the lowerend of a slide 270. The slide 270 is attached by a screw 271 to the long arm of a bell-crank-lever 272 pivotally mounted at 273 to the outer end of the holder 235. A longitudinal slot 274 in the slide 270, for the screw 27.1, is provided so as to yenable the lroller 269 to be properly adjusted when said screw is loosened. A socket 275 is bolted to the outer end of a projecting part of the plunger 24, and slidingly mounted in said socket is a yvertical plunger -pin 276 having a head 277. A spring 278 is located in the socket 275, between an internal flange at the base thereof and the head 277, to tension the plunger-pin upwardly and serve as a cushion or the parts connected with said pin, when the latter is forced downwardly, so that undue shock and strain are avoided.- A vertical screw 279 is tapped into the head 277, and is adapted to strike against an overhanging part of the adjacent side piece 4, when the plunger 24 rises, to depress the plunger-pin. A link 280 pivotally connects the lower, protruding end of the pin 276 with the short arm of the bell-crank-lever 272, at 281 and 282, respectively. The outer end of the block 3l is cut away zit-,283 to accommodate the short arm of the bell-crank-lever. A nut or flange 284, at the base-of the plungerpin 276, above the pivot 281, limits the upward movement. of said pin by contactingr with the base ot the socket. 275. The combined length of the long arm of the bellcrank-lever" and the slide 270, when said parts are properly adjusted, is such that the roller 269 can be wiped across the faces of the type at the bottom of the printing-wheel set. By adjusting the screw 279 up or down, the amount of forward throw given the roller 269 is decreased or increased, provision being thus made to insure the thorough inking of the laforesaid type. lt should be noted, in this connection, that the axis of the pivot 273 is in the same vertical plane with the axis of the stud 236, and that the arc of a circle along which the upper periphery ofl the roller 269A passes, as the long arm of the bell-crank-lever isswung forward, touches the type that are in printing position. The spring 278 normally positions the parts with the flange 284 against the socket 275 and the roller 269 in contact with the inking surface of the disk 256. 1n practice, assuming thatl theplunger 24 vis up, the plunger-pin 276 is in its low position, the ink-transfer roller 269 is in contact with the type, and the disk 256 is down out of contact with the ink-supply rollers 243 and 244, as best shown in Fig. 23'; now, upon the descent of said plunger, the pin 276 rises, under the influence ot' its spring, and through the medium ot the link 280 and the bell-crank-lever actuates said roller 269 backward into contact with said disk, leavingthe inked type free to print on the tag tace-piece i in the channel 129 below, and at the same tim-e the connecting-rod 266 depresses the rear end of the arm 257 and elevates` the disk into contact with said rollers 243 and 244, the parts being disposed as shown in Figs. 24 and 25. lVhen the plunger 24 ascends again, it brings about a reverse movement on the part oi the arm-257 and, as the inking-disk with its ratchetwheel 261 descends, said disk is partially ro- .tated, by said ratchet-wheel acting on the pawl 262, while the disk is still in contact Ywith the rollers 243 and 244 and the roller 269 is stilli in contact with the disk. but bevtore the end of the downward travel ot' said plunger is reached the disk passes away from said first-mentioned rollers and the plunger-pin screw 279 encounters the frame of the machine and causes said roller 269 to be swept forward fromI the disk and wiped beneath the printing-wl'lcel set and across the type at the bottom thereof, all through. the medium of the intervening and carrying parts and members. The rollers 243 and 244 are rotated every time the inkingdisk is raised into contact therewith and again when said disk is lowered out ot' such contact, by the oscillatory movements themselves, and this results in a thorough and free distributiono-f the ink from the tank 249, through the medium of the roller 242 which is rotated by the roller 243 whenever the latter is rotated, to the disk. The move- ,ments and actions of the inking mechanism,

as above set forth, occur at every full stro-ke of the plunger 24.

The operation of the machine as a whole is, briefly, as follows, it being assumed that all parts are disposed in positions that may be termed norma-l and that they are at rest, as indicated in the general views, with the exception of the driving pulley 7 which should be in motion. stripl is first led from the supply-roller or reel 95, between the adjacent feed-rollers 99, and pushed into the adjacent open end of the channel 129 vuntil it is between the hole 171 in the plate 126 and the passage 17 3 which is in line with said' hole, the left- `hand lever or arm 116 being temporarily depressed with the hand, by means of the The free end of the` handle 121, inv order to raise lthe upper roller 99 for the passage ofthe strip. Next the lever 75 is depressed to withdraw the arm 69 from locking engagement with the bolt 65-and allow said boltu to be thrust by its spring into engagement with the pulley 7, when the shaft 6 commences to revolve' through the medium of the eccentric 8, theV connecting-rod 63, and the pawl and ratchet mechanism which includes the disk 55 loose on said shaft 54. At the initial descent of the plungers 23 and 24 the first hole t in the strip l is made by lthe punch 146. At this time or during the downward movement of the plungers, the feed-rollers are all inF active, because the eccentric 8 is so placed on the shaft 6 relativeto the cranks 12 that it is raising the?l connecting-rod 63 and thereby partially rotating the disk 55 in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow, in Fig. 2, to bring about a new engagement between the pawl 59 and the ratchet-wheel 57. Now, as the shaft 6 continues its first revolution, the plungers are elevated and motion is imparted to the feedrollers to actuate the strip Z forward in the channel 129, such motion being imparted by the eccentric which in making the last half of its first revolution thrusts t-he connectingrod= 63 downward and so carries the disk 55, the pawl 59, the ratchet-wheel 57 and the shaft 54 all over in the direction of the arrow last mentioned. The'amount of movement thus imparted t'o the strip Z should .be the samev every timein order to maintain equal distances between the holes t, oner of .which is made every time the punch 146 comes down, so that the blanks n, the tails of which project between each pair'of such holes, can be cut out regularly, and to this end the finders 147 and 1 67 are provided, also the means whereby the upper. feedrollers are raised from the strip. As the punch 146 is about to make the second hole t, the

being pointed, readily shifts the strip to the right or left, if said strip be not in exactly ythe proper position, and in any eventholds the strip during the punching operation against endwise movement. When the strip reaches the finder' 167 the `latter coacts with vthe finder 147 to position. and hold the strip for equidistant punching and stamping thereof and subsequent action on theblanks n.

The spacing action of the finder or finders isrendered possible by reason of the fact that, at the time of this action, not only are the feed-rollers at rest, relse no punching, stamping and formupper feed-rollers 99"and. from the strip through the medium of the arms 116 and intervening parts, said arms them,

Vand 1622, .plates 163 and -to the Vfull extent finder 147 enters the first hole .t and,

lng operations could take place, but the 100 are elevated being rocked' downward by the dogs 35 when the plungers 23 and 24 descend. The

lifting of the upper feed-rollers occurs just before the finder or finders enters Vor enter .the strip, and saidrollers are released and restored to active position 'and condition before rotary motion is again imparted to such release and restoration resulting from the ascent of the plungers and the consequent removal of the dogs 35 from Contact with the arms 116. It will be remembered that the bottom of the channel t 129 is made u of the plate 148, die 150, replacer 151, d1e 154, anvil 159, plates 162 1633, anvil 165, and plates 127 and 127a; and that it is through' this channel that the strip is being fed. Step by step it is advanced by the intermittent-ly operating feed mechanism, the `advance being accurately gaged by the first finder and later by both finders,` hole after hole is punched therein, and when the die 150 is reached the first blank n is punched or stamped therefrom by the punch 149 and returned or pushedv up into the strip by the replacer 151. As the strip passes along-the blanks are stamped out at regular intervals. arrives and pauses on the die 154 the stamps 152 land 153 come down and produce the two rudimentary ribs 0 on the underside of the blank. Said blank next passes onto the anvil .159, and while there held between said anvil and the depressed or lowered clamp 158 the rib-closers 160 are actuated inward, through the medium of the recipro eating mechanism for their carriers 213, to close the rudimentary ribs. Each blank has the rudimentary ribs struck down by the stamps 152 and 153, and then slides along to the anvil where these ribs are closed, as stated, said rudimentary ribs moving in the grooves 212 in the plate 148; The mechanism is so timed that 'the rib-closers 160 are advanced of their inward travel whilevthe plungers are down, and retracted to their extreme outward limits of travel while said plungers are up, the rotary and parts between the bevel-gears reciprocating 51 and 53, on the shafts 44 and 45, rdspec tively, and said rib-closers furnishing the reciprocating medium for the-rilo-closers, as explained. With the ribs and c respectively Iin the grooves 226 and 228, in the 'plates 162 and 1628, respectively, the blanks advance successively to present their tails,

Vonev at a time, over the opening 225, where the stamp 161 bends said tails vertically downward. Then, with the ribs in the groove 226 in the plate 163 and the vertical tails or'tongue's in the slot 229 between said plate and the plate 1633, the blanks advance successively onto the anvil 165, where the tongue-bender 166 acts to giveteach tongue a forward inclination, while the clamp 164 When the first blank a 

